JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
JD SCIENCE · ANSWERS · www.jdscience.co.uk
AQA GCSE Biology (8461)
GCSE Biology
Answer sheet

Cell biology

Time guide: — · Questions: 32 · Total marks: 104
Written in AQA style. Use AQA command words. Quality of written communication is assessed on the 6-mark question.

Indicative marking points. Award marks for equivalent scientific or mathematical wording. Do not issue this sheet with the student worksheet.

1.
State what is meant by a eukaryotic cell.
[1 mark]
  • a cell with a nucleus / membrane-bound organelles
2.
State what is meant by a prokaryotic cell.
[1 mark]
  • a cell with no nucleus, DNA free in the cytoplasm
3.
State what is meant by the nucleus.
[1 mark]
  • organelle that contains DNA / controls the cell
4.
State what is meant by the cell membrane.
[1 mark]
  • partially permeable barrier around the cell
5.
State what is meant by a chloroplast.
[1 mark]
  • organelle where photosynthesis occurs
6.
State what is meant by diffusion.
[1 mark]
  • net movement of particles from high to low concentration
7.
State what is meant by osmosis.
[1 mark]
  • net movement of water from dilute to concentrated solution through a partially permeable membrane
8.
State what is meant by active transport.
[1 mark]
  • movement against a concentration gradient using energy
9.
State what is meant by mitosis.
[1 mark]
  • cell division producing two genetically identical diploid cells
10.
State what is meant by a stem cell.
[1 mark]
  • an undifferentiated cell that can divide and specialise
11.
Amira is asked about a eukaryotic cell in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) [2 marks]
  • has nucleus, mitochondria, cytoplasm, cell membrane
(b) [3 marks]
  • why muscle cells contain many mitochondria
12.
Amira is asked about a prokaryotic cell in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) [2 marks]
  • has cell wall, chromosomal DNA, plasmids, flagella
(b) [3 marks]
  • why bacteria can transfer plasmids
13.
Amira is asked about the nucleus in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) [2 marks]
  • surrounded by a nuclear membrane, contains chromosomes
(b) [3 marks]
  • why a red blood cell has no nucleus when mature
14.
Amira is asked about the cell membrane in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) [2 marks]
  • controls what enters and leaves
(b) [3 marks]
  • why osmosis needs a partially permeable membrane
15.
Amira is asked about a chloroplast in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) [2 marks]
  • contains chlorophyll and membranes
(b) [3 marks]
  • why root hair cells have no chloroplasts
16.
Amira is asked about diffusion in a AQA Biology paper.
(a) [2 marks]
  • passive, no energy from respiration
(b) [3 marks]
  • why gas exchange uses diffusion
17.
A cell image is 8 mm across. The actual cell is 0.02 mm. Calculate the magnification.
[3 marks]
  • magnification = image size ÷ actual size
  • Final answer: 400
18.
Magnification is ×400. The image is 20 mm. Calculate the actual size in µm.
[3 marks]
  • actual = image ÷ mag; 1 mm = 1000 µm
  • Final answer: 50.00 µm
19.
A cube cell of side 2 mm has what surface area to volume ratio?
[3 marks]
  • SA = 6a², V = a³
  • Final answer: 3 : 1
20.
A microscope uses a ×10 eyepiece and a ×40 objective. What is the total magnification?
[3 marks]
  • multiply the two lenses
  • Final answer: ×400
21.
Amira counts 24 cells in a 0.004 mm³ haemocytometer square. Estimate the number of cells in 1 mm³.
[3 marks]
  • scale up
  • Final answer: 6000
22.
A cell divides by mitosis every 2 hours. Starting from 1 cell, how many cells after 8 hours?
[3 marks]
  • 4 divisions, 2⁴
  • Final answer: 16
23.
Amira carries out the microscopy required practical to view onion epidermis. This is a typical AQA required-practical style question.
(a) [2 marks]
  • Independent: not always applicable / stain used
  • Dependent: clarity of organelles seen
(b) [2 marks]
  • same light intensity / same stain time
  • so the test is fair / only one variable is changed
(c) [2 marks]
  • cells overlapping
  • count only single-layer cells
24.
Amira carries out the osmosis required practical with potato cylinders. This is a typical AQA required-practical style question.
(a) [2 marks]
  • Independent: concentration of sugar solution
  • Dependent: change in mass / length
(b) [2 marks]
  • same temperature, same start length, blot dry
  • so the test is fair / only one variable is changed
(c) [2 marks]
  • surface water left on the potato changes mass
25.
Amira carries out an investigation of diffusion in agar cubes with indicator. This is a typical AQA required-practical style question.
(a) [2 marks]
  • Independent: cube size / concentration
  • Dependent: time for colour to disappear
(b) [2 marks]
  • same temperature
  • so the test is fair / only one variable is changed
(c) [2 marks]
  • cubes not identical size
26.
Amira carries out preparing a cheek-cell slide. This is a typical AQA required-practical style question.
(a) [2 marks]
  • Independent: n/a
  • Dependent: quality of the image
(b) [2 marks]
  • thin layer of cells
  • so the test is fair / only one variable is changed
(c) [2 marks]
  • too many cells / air bubbles
27.
Compare diffusion with active transport.
[4 marks]
  • diffusion is down the gradient / passive
  • active transport is against the gradient / needs ATP
28.
Compare animal cells with plant cells.
[4 marks]
  • both have nucleus, cytoplasm, membrane, mitochondria
  • only plant cells have cell wall, chloroplasts, permanent vacuole
29.
Compare mitosis with meiosis.
[4 marks]
  • mitosis: two identical diploid cells
  • meiosis: four haploid genetically different cells
30.
Compare embryonic stem cells with adult stem cells.
[4 marks]
  • embryonic can become most cell types
  • adult are more limited / fewer ethical issues
31.
Apply your knowledge of osmosis to this situation: water leaves the cells
[3 marks]
  • water leaves the cells
32.
Apply your knowledge of active transport to this situation: soil concentration is lower than inside the cell
[3 marks]
  • soil concentration is lower than inside the cell